Obama Concerned Over Further Russia Encroachment Into Ukraine

THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — With no sign of Russia abandoning the Crimean Peninsula, President Barack Obama said Tuesday he's concerned that Moscow will move deeper into Ukraine and warned Russian President Vladimir Putin that that would be a bad choice.

Obama stood fast on his insistence that Crimea remains a part of Ukraine, even as the fledgling Ukrainian government in Kiev ordered its troops to pull back from the disputed territory.

"We're not recognizing what is happening in Crimea," Obama said at his first news conference since Russia moved to annex Crimea after a referendum 10 days ago. Obama rejected "the notion that a referendum sloppily organized over the course of two weeks" would "somehow be a valid process."

Obama said he didn't think international recognition of Crimea as part of Russia is "a done deal." But he also said, "It would be dishonest to suggest there is a simple solution to what has already taken place in Crimea," where Russia troops are in control.

"We also are concerned about further encroachment by Russia into Ukraine," Obama said at a joint news conference with Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte.

"I think that will be a bad choice for President Putin to make," Obama said. "But ultimately he is the president of Russia, and he's the one who's going to be making that decision."

Obama was pursuing efforts to pressure Russia out of its aggressive pose as world leaders met for an international Nuclear Security Summit. But to the east, the Russian annexation of Crimea was beginning to take root and Moscow shrugged off Obama's drive to leave Putin in the cold.

Obama also said he was concerned about Russia's troop build-up along the Ukrainian border. "We oppose what appears to be an effort at intimidation," Obama said. "But Russia has a right legally to have its troops on its own soil."

Asked whether in hindsight he agrees with Republican presidential challenger Mitt Romney's assessment that Russia is the United States' top geopolitical foe, Obama said he is more concerned about a nuclear bomb in Manhattan than in Russia.

"America's got a whole lot of challenges," Obama said. "Russia is a regional power that is threatening some of its immediate neighbors, not out of strength but out of weakness."

The U.S. and some of its closest allies cut Russia out indefinitely from a major coalition of leading industrial nations and canceled a summer summit Russia was to host in its Olympic village of Sochi. Obama also sought to win backing from other foreign leaders in hopes of ostracizing or even shaming Putin into reversing his acquisition of Crimea and backing away from any designs he might have on other Eastern Europe territory.

In a strongly worded joint statement, the United States, France, Canada, Britain, Germany, Italy and Japan denounced a referendum in Crimea to secede from Ukraine and Russia's ensuing annexation. In so doing, the seven leaders also effectively excluded Russia from what had been a two-decade-old coalition known as the Group of Eight.

"This clear violation of international law is a serious challenge to the rule of law around the world and should be a concern for all nations," the declaration said.

Still, Monday's international gestures in Amsterdam and in The Hague got only a dismissive reaction from Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.

"The G-8 is an informal club," he said. "It has no membership tickets, and it can't purge anyone by definition."

Obama also raised the issue with Chinese President Xi Jinping. White House aides later commended the Chinese for refusing to side with Russia, a longtime ally, on a U.N Security Council vote last week declaring the secession vote illegal. Russia, a Security Council permanent member, voted against it, while China abstained.

And in an addition to his public schedule, Obama sat down with Putin ally President Nursultan Nazarbayev of Kazakhstan. As Obama and Nazarbayev wrapped up their meeting, the White House released a joint statement from Obama and Nazarbayev that did not address the Ukraine situation, but focused instead on bilateral cooperation on nuclear security and nonproliferation — the theme of concurrent summit serving as the official purpose for Obama's visit to the Netherlands.

Obama praised action at the summit, including new commitments by Japan, Italy and Belgium to reduce their stocks of nuclear materials. Obama began the nuclear summit series in 2010 in an attempt to secure materials and keep them out of the hands of terrorists. Obama said the next summit, in 2016, will be held in his hometown of Chicago.

Later Tuesday, Obama was to meet with Prince Mohamed bin Zayed, crown prince of Abu Dhabi, the richest emirate in the United Arab Emirates federation. He also has a joint meeting scheduled with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and South Korean President Park Geun-hye.

Both those meetings are likely to focus less on Ukraine and more on regional tensions in the Middle East and in Northern Asia. The visit with the Abu Dhabi crown prince will also serve as precursor to Obama's on Friday visit to Saudi Arabia, where he will meet with King Abdullah to address Arab anxieties over the Syrian civil war and U.S. nuclear talks with Iran, a Saudi Arabia rival in the region.

The meeting with Park and Abe brings together two U.S. Asian allies who have been quarreling over recent Abe gestures that have rekindled memories of Japan's aggression in World War II. It will be the first meeting between the two Asian leaders since they took office more than a year ago.

SIMFEROPOL, UKRAINE - MARCH 02: Heavily-armed troops displaying no identifying insignia and local pro-Russian militants stand guard outside a local government building on March 2, 2014 in Simferopol, Ukraine. The new government of Ukraine has appealed to the United Nations Security Council for help against growing Russian intervention in Crimea, where thousands of Russian troops reportedly arrived in recent days at Russian military bases there and also occupy key government and other installations. World leaders are scrambling to persuade Russian President Vladimir Putin to refrain from further escalation in Ukraine. Ukraine has put its armed forces on combat alert. (Photo by Sean Gallup/Getty Images)

SIMFEROPOL, UKRAINE - MARCH 02: Heavily-armed troops displaying no identifying insignia and who were mingling with local pro-Russian militants stand guard outside a local government building on March 2, 2014 in Simferopol, Ukraine. The new government of Ukraine has appealed to the United Nations Security Council for help against growing Russian intervention in Crimea, where thousands of Russian troops reportedly arrived in recent days at Russian military bases there and also occupy key government and other installations. World leaders are scrambling to persuade Russian President Vladimir Putin to refrain from further escalation in Ukraine. Ukraine has put its armed forces on combat alert. (Photo by Sean Gallup/Getty Images)

SIMFEROPOL, UKRAINE - MARCH 02: Pro-Russian militants station themselves behind a row of shields near a local government building and a statue of Lenin on March 2, 2014 in Simferopol, Ukraine. The new government of Ukraine has appealed to the United Nations Security Council for help against growing Russian intervention in Crimea, where thousands of Russian troops reportedly arrived in recent days at Russian military bases there and also occupy key government and other installations. World leaders are scrambling to persuade Russian President Vladimir Putin to refrain from further escalation in Ukraine. Ukraine has put its armed forces on combat alert. (Photo by Sean Gallup/Getty Images)

SIMFEROPOL, UKRAINE - MARCH 02: Pro-Russian militants station themselves behind a row of shields near a local government building and a statue of Lenin on March 2, 2014 in Simferopol, Ukraine. The new government of Ukraine has appealed to the United Nations Security Council for help against growing Russian intervention in Crimea, where thousands of Russian troops reportedly arrived in recent days at Russian military bases there and also occupy key government and other installations. World leaders are scrambling to persuade Russian President Vladimir Putin to refrain from further escalation in Ukraine. Ukraine has put its armed forces on combat alert. (Photo by Sean Gallup/Getty Images)

SIMFEROPOL, UKRAINE - MARCH 02: Heavily-armed troops displaying no identifying insignia and who were mingling with local pro-Russian militants stand guard outside a local government building on March 2, 2014 in Simferopol, Ukraine. The new government of Ukraine has appealed to the United Nations Security Council for help against growing Russian intervention in Crimea, where thousands of Russian troops reportedly arrived in recent days at Russian military bases there and also occupy key government and other installations. World leaders are scrambling to persuade Russian President Vladimir Putin to refrain from further escalation in Ukraine. Ukraine has put its armed forces on combat alert. (Photo by Sean Gallup/Getty Images)

SIMFEROPOL, UKRAINE - MARCH 02: Heavily-armed troops displaying no identifying insignia and who were mingling with local pro-Russian militants stand guard outside a local government building on March 2, 2014 in Simferopol, Ukraine. The new government of Ukraine has appealed to the United Nations Security Council for help against growing Russian intervention in Crimea, where thousands of Russian troops reportedly arrived in recent days at Russian military bases there and also occupy key government and other installations. World leaders are scrambling to persuade Russian President Vladimir Putin to refrain from further escalation in Ukraine. Ukraine has put its armed forces on combat alert. (Photo by Sean Gallup/Getty Images)

SIMFEROPOL, UKRAINE - MARCH 02: Pro-Russian militants, including one kissing a religious icon as he takes up his position, station themselves behind a row of shields near a local government building also guarded by heavily-armed troops on March 2, 2014 in Simferopol, Ukraine. The new government of Ukraine has appealed to the United Nations Security Council for help against growing Russian intervention in Crimea, where thousands of Russian troops reportedly arrived in recent days at Russian military bases there and also occupy key government and other installations. World leaders are scrambling to persuade Russian President Vladimir Putin to refrain from further escalation in Ukraine. Ukraine has put its armed forces on combat alert. (Photo by Sean Gallup/Getty Images)

SIMFEROPOL, UKRAINE - MARCH 02: Pro-Russian militants station themselves behind a row of shields near a local government building also guarded by heavily-armed troops on March 2, 2014 in Simferopol, Ukraine. The new government of Ukraine has appealed to the United Nations Security Council for help against growing Russian intervention in Crimea, where thousands of Russian troops reportedly arrived in recent days at Russian military bases there and also occupy key government and other installations. World leaders are scrambling to persuade Russian President Vladimir Putin to refrain from further escalation in Ukraine. Ukraine has put its armed forces on combat alert. (Photo by Sean Gallup/Getty Images)

SIMFEROPOL, UKRAINE - MARCH 02: Pro-Russian militants station themselves behind a row of shields near a local government building also guarded by heavily-armed troops on March 2, 2014 in Simferopol, Ukraine. The new government of Ukraine has appealed to the United Nations Security Council for help against growing Russian intervention in Crimea, where thousands of Russian troops reportedly arrived in recent days at Russian military bases there and also occupy key government and other installations. World leaders are scrambling to persuade Russian President Vladimir Putin to refrain from further escalation in Ukraine. Ukraine has put its armed forces on combat alert. (Photo by Sean Gallup/Getty Images)

SIMFEROPOL, UKRAINE - MARCH 02: Pro-Russian militants station themselves behind a row of shields near a local government building also guarded by heavily-armed troops on March 2, 2014 in Simferopol, Ukraine. The new government of Ukraine has appealed to the United Nations Security Council for help against growing Russian intervention in Crimea, where thousands of Russian troops reportedly arrived in recent days at Russian military bases there and also occupy key government and other installations. World leaders are scrambling to persuade Russian President Vladimir Putin to refrain from further escalation in Ukraine. Ukraine has put its armed forces on combat alert. (Photo by Sean Gallup/Getty Images)

SIMFEROPOL, UKRAINE - MARCH 02: Pro-Russian militants station themselves behind a row of shields near a local government building and a statue of Lenin on March 2, 2014 in Simferopol, Ukraine. The new government of Ukraine has appealed to the United Nations Security Council for help against growing Russian intervention in Crimea, where thousands of Russian troops reportedly arrived in recent days at Russian military bases there and also occupy key government and other installations. World leaders are scrambling to persuade Russian President Vladimir Putin to refrain from further escalation in Ukraine. Ukraine has put its armed forces on combat alert. (Photo by Sean Gallup/Getty Images)

SIMFEROPOL, UKRAINE - MARCH 02: Pro-Russian militants station themselves behind a row of shields near a local government building and a statue of Lenin on March 2, 2014 in Simferopol, Ukraine. The new government of Ukraine has appealed to the United Nations Security Council for help against growing Russian intervention in Crimea, where thousands of Russian troops reportedly arrived in recent days at Russian military bases there and also occupy key government and other installations. World leaders are scrambling to persuade Russian President Vladimir Putin to refrain from further escalation in Ukraine. Ukraine has put its armed forces on combat alert. (Photo by Sean Gallup/Getty Images)

SIMFEROPOL, UKRAINE - MARCH 02: Pro-Russian militants station themselves behind a row of shields near a local government building and a statue of Lenin on March 2, 2014 in Simferopol, Ukraine. The new government of Ukraine has appealed to the United Nations Security Council for help against growing Russian intervention in Crimea, where thousands of Russian troops reportedly arrived in recent days at Russian military bases there and also occupy key government and other installations. World leaders are scrambling to persuade Russian President Vladimir Putin to refrain from further escalation in Ukraine. Ukraine has put its armed forces on combat alert. (Photo by Sean Gallup/Getty Images)

Unidentified armed individuals guard the Crimean Parliament building in Simferopol, the administrative center of Crimea, on March 1, 2014. Russia's parliament on March 1 gave President Vladimir Putin the go-ahead to send troops into Ukraine, despite a warning from Washington that such a deployment would results in 'costs' for Moscow. The stark escalation of the ex-Soviet country's three-month political crisis came amid growing instability in Ukraine's predominantly Russian peninsula of Crimea that has housed Kremlin navies for nearly 250 years. AFP PHOTO/ GENYA SAVILOV (Photo credit should read GENYA SAVILOV/AFP/Getty Images)

Pro-Russian activists wave a giant Russian flag as they rally in Simferopol, the administrative center of Crimea, on March 1, 2014. Russia's parliament on March 1 gave President Vladimir Putin the go-ahead to send troops into Ukraine, despite a warning from Washington that such a deployment would results in 'costs' for Moscow. The stark escalation of the ex-Soviet country's three-month political crisis came amid growing instability in Ukraine's predominantly Russian peninsula of Crimea that has housed Kremlin navies for nearly 250 years. AFP PHOTO/ GENYA SAVILOV (Photo credit should read GENYA SAVILOV/AFP/Getty Images)

A pro-Russian activist holds a Russian flag during a rally in Simferopol, the administrative center of Crimea, on March 1, 2014. Russia's parliament on March 1 gave President Vladimir Putin the go-ahead to send troops into Ukraine, despite a warning from Washington that such a deployment would results in 'costs' for Moscow. The stark escalation of the ex-Soviet country's three-month political crisis came amid growing instability in Ukraine's predominantly Russian peninsula of Crimea that has housed Kremlin navies for nearly 250 years. AFP PHOTO/ GENYA SAVILOV (Photo credit should read GENYA SAVILOV/AFP/Getty Images)

SIMFEROPOL, UKRAINE - MARCH 01: Heavily-armed soldiers displaying no identifying insignia maintain watch in a street in the city center on March 1, 2014 in Simferopol, Ukraine. Similarly dressed soldiers stationed themselves around the Crimean Parliament building earlier in the day in what seems to be a growing military occupation of the city, which is the Crimean capital. The day before unidentified soldiers occupied Simferopol International Airport and Russian soldiers occupied the airport at nearby Sevastapol in moves that are raising tensions between Russia and the new Kiev government. Crimea has a majority Russian population and armed, pro-Russian groups have occupied government buildings in Simferopol. (Photo by Sean Gallup/Getty Images)

SIMFEROPOL, UKRAINE - MARCH 01: Heavily-armed soldiers displaying no identifying insignia maintain watch in a street in the city center on March 1, 2014 in Simferopol, Ukraine. Similarly dressed soldiers stationed themselves around the Crimean Parliament building earlier in the day in what seems to be a growing military occupation of the city, which is the Crimean capital. The day before unidentified soldiers occupied Simferopol International Airport and Russian soldiers occupied the airport at nearby Sevastapol in moves that are raising tensions between Russia and the new Kiev government. Crimea has a majority Russian population and armed, pro-Russian groups have occupied government buildings in Simferopol. (Photo by Sean Gallup/Getty Images)

SIMFEROPOL, UKRAINE - MARCH 01: A young man carrying flowers confronts heavily-armed soldiers displaying no identifying insignia in a street in the city center on March 1, 2014 in Simferopol, Ukraine. Similarly dressed soldiers stationed themselves around the Crimean Parliament building earlier in the day in what seems to be a growing military occupation of the city, which is the Crimean capital. The day before unidentified soldiers occupied Simferopol International Airport and Russian soldiers occupied the airport at nearby Sevastapol in moves that are raising tensions between Russia and the new Kiev government. Crimea has a majority Russian population and armed, pro-Russian groups have occupied government buildings in Simferopol. (Photo by Sean Gallup/Getty Images)

SIMFEROPOL, UKRAINE - MARCH 01: People look at a heavily-armed soldier displaying no identifying insignia in a street in the city center on March 1, 2014 in Simferopol, Ukraine. Similarly dressed soldiers stationed themselves around the Crimean Parliament building earlier in the day in what seems to be a growing military occupation of the city, which is the Crimean capital. The day before unidentified soldiers occupied Simferopol International Airport and Russian soldiers occupied the airport at nearby Sevastapol in moves that are raising tensions between Russia and the new Kiev government. Crimea has a majority Russian population and armed, pro-Russian groups have occupied government buildings in Simferopol. (Photo by Sean Gallup/Getty Images)

SIMFEROPOL, UKRAINE - MARCH 01: A young woman walks past heavily-armed soldiers displaying no identifying insignia in a street in the city center on March 1, 2014 in Simferopol, Ukraine. Similarly dressed soldiers stationed themselves around the Crimean Parliament building earlier in the day in what seems to be a growing military occupation of the city, which is the Crimean capital. The day before unidentified soldiers occupied Simferopol International Airport and Russian soldiers occupied the airport at nearby Sevastapol in moves that are raising tensions between Russia and the new Kiev government. Crimea has a majority Russian population and armed, pro-Russian groups have occupied government buildings in Simferopol. (Photo by Sean Gallup/Getty Images)

SIMFEROPOL, UKRAINE - MARCH 01: A young man carrying flowers confronts heavily-armed soldiers displaying no identifying insignia in a street in the city center on March 1, 2014 in Simferopol, Ukraine. Similarly dressed soldiers stationed themselves around the Crimean Parliament building earlier in the day in what seems to be a growing military occupation of the city, which is the Crimean capital. The day before unidentified soldiers occupied Simferopol International Airport and Russian soldiers occupied the airport at nearby Sevastapol in moves that are raising tensions between Russia and the new Kiev government. Crimea has a majority Russian population and armed, pro-Russian groups have occupied government buildings in Simferopol. (Photo by Sean Gallup/Getty Images)

SIMFEROPOL, UKRAINE - MARCH 01: A young man carrying flowers confronts heavily-armed soldiers displaying no identifying insignia in a street in the city center on March 1, 2014 in Simferopol, Ukraine. Similarly dressed soldiers stationed themselves around the Crimean Parliament building earlier in the day in what seems to be a growing military occupation of the city, which is the Crimean capital. The day before unidentified soldiers occupied Simferopol International Airport and Russian soldiers occupied the airport at nearby Sevastapol in moves that are raising tensions between Russia and the new Kiev government. Crimea has a majority Russian population and armed, pro-Russian groups have occupied government buildings in Simferopol. (Photo by Sean Gallup/Getty Images)

SIMFEROPOL, UKRAINE - MARCH 01: Pro-Russian sympathizers chanting 'Russia, Russia! Simferopol, Simferopol! Sevastopol, Sevastopol! Berkut, Berkut!' (Berkut is the elite paramilitary unit recently disbanded by the new Ukrainian government and responsible for many of the deaths during violent clahes recently in Kiev) hold up a giant Russian flag as they march in the city center on March 1, 2014 in Simferopol, Ukraine. Earlier in the day heavily-armed soldiers displaying no identifying insignia took up positions around the Crimean Parliament and elsewehere in the city center in what seems to be a growing military occupation of the Crimean capital. The new pro-Russian prime minister of Crimea, Sergei Aksenov, announced that he has taken control of Crimean military and security and appealed to Russia for help in maintaining peace in Crimea. (Photo by Sean Gallup/Getty Images)

SIMFEROPOL, UKRAINE - MARCH 01: A young man carrying flowers who moments before had confronted heavily-armed soldiers displaying no identifying insignia waved goodbye to them in a street in the city center on March 1, 2014 in Simferopol, Ukraine. Similarly dressed soldiers stationed themselves around the Crimean Parliament building earlier in the day in what seems to be a growing military occupation of the city, which is the Crimean capital. The day before unidentified soldiers occupied Simferopol International Airport and Russian soldiers occupied the airport at nearby Sevastapol in moves that are raising tensions between Russia and the new Kiev government. Crimea has a majority Russian population and armed, pro-Russian groups have occupied government buildings in Simferopol. (Photo by Sean Gallup/Getty Images)

SIMFEROPOL, UKRAINE - MARCH 01: Heavily-armed soldiers displaying no identifying insignia maintain watch in a street in the city center on March 1, 2014 in Simferopol, Ukraine. Similarly dressed soldiers stationed themselves around the Crimean Parliament building earlier in the day in what seems to be a growing military occupation of the city, which is the Crimean capital. The day before unidentified soldiers occupied Simferopol International Airport and Russian soldiers occupied the airport at nearby Sevastapol in moves that are raising tensions between Russia and the new Kiev government. Crimea has a majority Russian population and armed, pro-Russian groups have occupied government buildings in Simferopol. (Photo by Sean Gallup/Getty Images)

SIMFEROPOL, UKRAINE - MARCH 01: Heavily-armed soldiers displaying no identifying insignia maintain watch in a street in the city center on March 1, 2014 in Simferopol, Ukraine. Similarly dressed soldiers stationed themselves around the Crimean Parliament building earlier in the day in what seems to be a growing military occupation of the city, which is the Crimean capital. The day before unidentified soldiers occupied Simferopol International Airport and Russian soldiers occupied the airport at nearby Sevastapol in moves that are raising tensions between Russia and the new Kiev government. Crimea has a majority Russian population and armed, pro-Russian groups have occupied government buildings in Simferopol. (Photo by Sean Gallup/Getty Images)

SIMFEROPOL, UKRAINE - MARCH 01: A man wearing a scarf and jacket in the blue and yellow of the Ukrainian flag walks past heavily-armed soldiers displaying no identifying insignia in a street in the city center on March 1, 2014 in Simferopol, Ukraine. Similarly dressed soldiers stationed themselves around the Crimean Parliament building earlier in the day in what seems to be a growing military occupation of the city, which is the Crimean capital. The day before unidentified soldiers occupied Simferopol International Airport and Russian soldiers occupied the airport at nearby Sevastapol in moves that are raising tensions between Russia and the new Kiev government. Crimea has a majority Russian population and armed, pro-Russian groups have occupied government buildings in Simferopol. (Photo by Sean Gallup/Getty Images)

SIMFEROPOL, UKRAINE - MARCH 01: People walk past heavily-armed soldiers displaying no identifying insignia in a street in the city center on March 1, 2014 in Simferopol, Ukraine. Similarly dressed soldiers stationed themselves around the Crimean Parliament building earlier in the day in what seems to be a growing military occupation of the city, which is the Crimean capital. The day before unidentified soldiers occupied Simferopol International Airport and Russian soldiers occupied the airport at nearby Sevastapol in moves that are raising tensions between Russia and the new Kiev government. Crimea has a majority Russian population and armed, pro-Russian groups have occupied government buildings in Simferopol. (Photo by Sean Gallup/Getty Images)

SIMFEROPOL, UKRAINE - MARCH 01: Heavily-armed soldiers displaying no identifying insignia maintain watch in a street as people walk past in the city center on March 1, 2014 in Simferopol, Ukraine. Similarly dressed soldiers stationed themselves around the Crimean Parliament building earlier in the day in what seems to be a growing military occupation of the city, which is the Crimean capital. The day before unidentified soldiers occupied Simferopol International Airport and Russian soldiers occupied the airport at nearby Sevastapol in moves that are raising tensions between Russia and the new Kiev government. Crimea has a majority Russian population and armed, pro-Russian groups have occupied government buildings in Simferopol. (Photo by Sean Gallup/Getty Images)

SIMFEROPOL, UKRAINE - MARCH 01: Heavily-armed soldiers displaying no identifying insignia maintain watch in a street as people walk past in the city center on March 1, 2014 in Simferopol, Ukraine. Similarly dressed soldiers stationed themselves around the Crimean Parliament building earlier in the day in what seems to be a growing military occupation of the city, which is the Crimean capital. The day before unidentified soldiers occupied Simferopol International Airport and Russian soldiers occupied the airport at nearby Sevastapol in moves that are raising tensions between Russia and the new Kiev government. Crimea has a majority Russian population and armed, pro-Russian groups have occupied government buildings in Simferopol. (Photo by Sean Gallup/Getty Images)

SIMFEROPOL, UKRAINE - MARCH 01: Heavily-armed soldiers displaying no identifying insignia maintain watch in a street in the city center on March 1, 2014 in Simferopol, Ukraine. Similarly dressed soldiers stationed themselves around the Crimean Parliament building earlier in the day in what seems to be a growing military occupation of the city, which is the Crimean capital. The day before unidentified soldiers occupied Simferopol International Airport and Russian soldiers occupied the airport at nearby Sevastapol in moves that are raising tensions between Russia and the new Kiev government. Crimea has a majority Russian population and armed, pro-Russian groups have occupied government buildings in Simferopol. (Photo by Sean Gallup/Getty Images)

SIMFEROPOL, UKRAINE - MARCH 01: A soldier displaying no identifying insignia carries a loaded, heavy machine gun as people walk past in the city center on March 1, 2014 in Simferopol, Ukraine. Similarly dressed soldiers stationed themselves around the Crimean Parliament building earlier in the day in what seems to be a growing military occupation of the city, which is the Crimean capital. The day before unidentified soldiers occupied Simferopol International Airport and Russian soldiers occupied the airport at nearby Sevastapol in moves that are raising tensions between Russia and the new Kiev government. Crimea has a majority Russian population and armed, pro-Russian groups have occupied government buildings in Simferopol. (Photo by Sean Gallup/Getty Images)

Unidentified armed individuals guard the Crimean Parliament building in Simferopol, the administrative center of Crimea, on March 1, 2014. Russia's parliament on March 1 gave President Vladimir Putin the go-ahead to send troops into Ukraine, despite a warning from Washington that such a deployment would results in 'costs' for Moscow. The stark escalation of the ex-Soviet country's three-month political crisis came amid growing instability in Ukraine's predominantly Russian peninsula of Crimea that has housed Kremlin navies for nearly 250 years. AFP PHOTO/ GENYA SAVILOV (Photo credit should read GENYA SAVILOV/AFP/Getty Images)

SIMFEROPOL, UKRAINE - MARCH 01: Heavily-armed soldiers displaying no identifying insignia maintain watch in a street as people walk past in the city center on March 1, 2014 in Simferopol, Ukraine. Similarly dressed soldiers stationed themselves around the Crimean Parliament building earlier in the day in what seems to be a growing military occupation of the city, which is the Crimean capital. The day before unidentified soldiers occupied Simferopol International Airport and Russian soldiers occupied the airport at nearby Sevastapol in moves that are raising tensions between Russia and the new Kiev government. Crimea has a majority Russian population and armed, pro-Russian groups have occupied government buildings in Simferopol. (Photo by Sean Gallup/Getty Images)

SIMFEROPOL, UKRAINE - MARCH 01: Heavily-armed soldiers displaying no identifying insignia maintain watch in a street as people walk past in the city center on March 1, 2014 in Simferopol, Ukraine. Similarly dressed soldiers stationed themselves around the Crimean Parliament building earlier in the day in what seems to be a growing military occupation of the city, which is the Crimean capital. The day before unidentified soldiers occupied Simferopol International Airport and Russian soldiers occupied the airport at nearby Sevastapol in moves that are raising tensions between Russia and the new Kiev government. Crimea has a majority Russian population and armed, pro-Russian groups have occupied government buildings in Simferopol. (Photo by Sean Gallup/Getty Images)

SIMFEROPOL, UKRAINE - MARCH 01: People walk past heavily-armed soldiers displaying no identifying insignia in a street in the city center on March 1, 2014 in Simferopol, Ukraine. Similarly dressed soldiers stationed themselves around the Crimean Parliament building earlier in the day in what seems to be a growing military occupation of the city, which is the Crimean capital. The day before unidentified soldiers occupied Simferopol International Airport and Russian soldiers occupied the airport at nearby Sevastapol in moves that are raising tensions between Russia and the new Kiev government. Crimea has a majority Russian population and armed, pro-Russian groups have occupied government buildings in Simferopol. (Photo by Sean Gallup/Getty Images)

SIMFEROPOL, UKRAINE - MARCH 01: A young woman walks past heavily-armed soldiers displaying no identifying insignia in a street in the city center on March 1, 2014 in Simferopol, Ukraine. Similarly dressed soldiers stationed themselves around the Crimean Parliament building earlier in the day in what seems to be a growing military occupation of the city, which is the Crimean capital. The day before unidentified soldiers occupied Simferopol International Airport and Russian soldiers occupied the airport at nearby Sevastapol in moves that are raising tensions between Russia and the new Kiev government. Crimea has a majority Russian population and armed, pro-Russian groups have occupied government buildings in Simferopol. (Photo by Sean Gallup/Getty Images)

SIMFEROPOL, UKRAINE - MARCH 01: Heavily-armed soldiers displaying no identifying insignia maintain watch in a street in the city center on March 1, 2014 in Simferopol, Ukraine. Similarly dressed soldiers stationed themselves around the Crimean Parliament building earlier in the day in what seems to be a growing military occupation of the city, which is the Crimean capital. The day before unidentified soldiers occupied Simferopol International Airport and Russian soldiers occupied the airport at nearby Sevastapol in moves that are raising tensions between Russia and the new Kiev government. Crimea has a majority Russian population and armed, pro-Russian groups have occupied government buildings in Simferopol. (Photo by Sean Gallup/Getty Images)

SIMFEROPOL, UKRAINE - MARCH 01: Heavily-armed soldiers, including one loading bullets into his heavy machine gun, displaying no identifying insignia maintain watch in a street in the city center on March 1, 2014 in Simferopol, Ukraine. Similarly dressed soldiers stationed themselves around the Crimean Parliament building earlier in the day in what seems to be a growing military occupation of the city, which is the Crimean capital. The day before unidentified soldiers occupied Simferopol International Airport and Russian soldiers occupied the airport at nearby Sevastapol in moves that are raising tensions between Russia and the new Kiev government. Crimea has a majority Russian population and armed, pro-Russian groups have occupied government buildings in Simferopol. (Photo by Sean Gallup/Getty Images)

SIMFEROPOL, UKRAINE - MARCH 01: Pro-Russian sympathizers chanting 'Russia, Russia! Simferopol, Simferopol! Sevastopol, Sevastopol! Berkut, Berkut!' (Berkut is the elite paramilitary unit recently disbanded by the new Ukrainian government and responsible for many of the deaths during violent clahes recently in Kiev) hold up a giant Russian flag as they march in the city center on March 1, 2014 in Simferopol, Ukraine. Earlier in the day heavily-armed soldiers displaying no identifying insignia took up positions around the Crimean Parliament and elsewehere in the city center in what seems to be a growing military occupation of the Crimean capital. The new pro-Russian prime minister of Crimea, Sergei Aksenov, announced that he has taken control of Crimean military and security and appealed to Russia for help in maintaining peace in Crimea. (Photo by Sean Gallup/Getty Images)

SIMFEROPOL, UKRAINE - MARCH 01: Pro-Russian sympathizers, including one man holding a sign that referring to the USA and fascism, attend an anti-American rally hours after heavily-armed, unidentifed soldiers took up positions around the nearby Crimean Parliament on March 1, 2014 in Simferopol, Ukraine. The soldiers' arrival comes the day after soldiers in similar uniforms stationed themselves at Simferopol International Airport and Russian soldiers occupied the airport at nearby Sevastapol in moves that are raising tensions between Russia and the new Kiev government. Crimea has a majority Russian population and armed, pro-Russian groups have occupied government buildings in Simferopol. (Photo by Sean Gallup/Getty Images)

SIMFEROPOL, UKRAINE - MARCH 01: Pro-Russian sympathizers chanting 'Russia, Russia! Simferopol, Simferopol! Sevastopol, Sevastopol! Berkut, Berkut!' (Berkut is the elite paramilitary unit recently disbanded by the new Ukrainian government and responsible for many of the deaths during violent clahes recently in Kiev) hold up a giant Russian flag as they march in the city center on March 1, 2014 in Simferopol, Ukraine. Earlier in the day heavily-armed soldiers displaying no identifying insignia took up positions around the Crimean Parliament and elsewehere in the city center in what seems to be a growing military occupation of the Crimean capital. The new pro-Russian prime minister of Crimea, Sergei Aksenov, announced that he has taken control of Crimean military and security and appealed to Russia for help in maintaining peace in Crimea. (Photo by Sean Gallup/Getty Images)

Unidentified masked individuals throw a concrete block through a window as they storm the Trade Union building in Simferopol, the administrative center of Crimea, on March 1, 2014. Russia's parliament on March 1 gave President Vladimir Putin the go-ahead to send troops into Ukraine, despite a warning from Washington that such a deployment would results in 'costs' for Moscow. The stark escalation of the ex-Soviet country's three-month political crisis came amid growing instability in Ukraine's predominantly Russian peninsula of Crimea that has housed Kremlin navies for nearly 250 years. AFP PHOTO/ GENYA SAVILOV (Photo credit should read GENYA SAVILOV/AFP/Getty Images)

Unidentified masked individuals hold a Russian flag as they block the Trade Union building in Simferopol, the administrative center of Crimea, on March 1, 2014. Russia's parliament on March 1 gave President Vladimir Putin the go-ahead to send troops into Ukraine, despite a warning from Washington that such a deployment would results in 'costs' for Moscow. The stark escalation of the ex-Soviet country's three-month political crisis came amid growing instability in Ukraine's predominantly Russian peninsula of Crimea that has housed Kremlin navies for nearly 250 years. AFP PHOTO/ GENYA SAVILOV (Photo credit should read GENYA SAVILOV/AFP/Getty Images)

Unidentified masked individuals hold a Russian flag as they block the Trade Union building in Simferopol, the administrative center of Crimea, on March 1, 2014. Russia's parliament on March 1 gave President Vladimir Putin the go-ahead to send troops into Ukraine, despite a warning from Washington that such a deployment would results in 'costs' for Moscow. The stark escalation of the ex-Soviet country's three-month political crisis came amid growing instability in Ukraine's predominantly Russian peninsula of Crimea that has housed Kremlin navies for nearly 250 years. AFP PHOTO/ GENYA SAVILOV (Photo credit should read GENYA SAVILOV/AFP/Getty Images)

Pro-Russian activists wave a giant Russian flag near a statue of Lenin as they rally in Simferopol, the administrative center of Crimea, on March 1, 2014. Russia's parliament on March 1 gave President Vladimir Putin the go-ahead to send troops into Ukraine, despite a warning from Washington that such a deployment would results in 'costs' for Moscow. The stark escalation of the ex-Soviet country's three-month political crisis came amid growing instability in Ukraine's predominantly Russian peninsula of Crimea that has housed Kremlin navies for nearly 250 years. AFP PHOTO/ GENYA SAVILOV (Photo credit should read GENYA SAVILOV/AFP/Getty Images)

SIMFEROPOL, UKRAINE - MARCH 01: Pro-Russian sympathizers chanting 'Russia, Russia! Simferopol, Simferopol! Sevastopol, Sevastopol! Berkut, Berkut!' (Berkut is the elite paramilitary unit recently disbanded by the new Ukrainian government and responsible for many of the deaths during violent clahes recently in Kiev) hold up a giant Russian flag as they march in the city center on March 1, 2014 in Simferopol, Ukraine. Earlier in the day heavily-armed soldiers displaying no identifying insignia took up positions around the Crimean Parliament and elsewehere in the city center in what seems to be a growing military occupation of the Crimean capital. The new pro-Russian prime minister of Crimea, Sergei Aksenov, announced that he has taken control of Crimean military and security and appealed to Russia for help in maintaining peace in Crimea. (Photo by Sean Gallup/Getty Images)

Pro-Russian activists hold a giant Russian flag near a statue of Lenin as they rally in Simferopol, the administrative center of Crimea, on March 1, 2014. Russia's parliament on March 1 gave President Vladimir Putin the go-ahead to send troops into Ukraine, despite a warning from Washington that such a deployment would results in 'costs' for Moscow. The stark escalation of the ex-Soviet country's three-month political crisis came amid growing instability in Ukraine's predominantly Russian peninsula of Crimea that has housed Kremlin navies for nearly 250 years. AFP PHOTO/ GENYA SAVILOV (Photo credit should read GENYA SAVILOV/AFP/Getty Images)

Pro-Russian activists wave a giant Russian flag as they rally in Simferopol, the administrative center of Crimea, on March 1, 2014. Russia's parliament on March 1 gave President Vladimir Putin the go-ahead to send troops into Ukraine, despite a warning from Washington that such a deployment would results in 'costs' for Moscow. The stark escalation of the ex-Soviet country's three-month political crisis came amid growing instability in Ukraine's predominantly Russian peninsula of Crimea that has housed Kremlin navies for nearly 250 years. AFP PHOTO/ GENYA SAVILOV (Photo credit should read GENYA SAVILOV/AFP/Getty Images)

A pro-Russian activist holds part of a giant Russian flag near a statue of Lenin during a rally in Simferopol, the administrative center of Crimea, on March 1, 2014. Russia's parliament on March 1 gave President Vladimir Putin the go-ahead to send troops into Ukraine, despite a warning from Washington that such a deployment would results in 'costs' for Moscow. The stark escalation of the ex-Soviet country's three-month political crisis came amid growing instability in Ukraine's predominantly Russian peninsula of Crimea that has housed Kremlin navies for nearly 250 years. AFP PHOTO/ GENYA SAVILOV (Photo credit should read GENYA SAVILOV/AFP/Getty Images)

A pro-Russian activist holds a Russian flag during a rally in Simferopol, the administrative center of Crimea, on March 1, 2014. Russia's parliament on March 1 gave President Vladimir Putin the go-ahead to send troops into Ukraine, despite a warning from Washington that such a deployment would results in 'costs' for Moscow. The stark escalation of the ex-Soviet country's three-month political crisis came amid growing instability in Ukraine's predominantly Russian peninsula of Crimea that has housed Kremlin navies for nearly 250 years. AFP PHOTO/ GENYA SAVILOV (Photo credit should read GENYA SAVILOV/AFP/Getty Images)

Pro-Russian activists hold a giant Russian flag as they rally in Simferopol, the administrative center of Crimea, on March 1, 2014. Russia's parliament on March 1 gave President Vladimir Putin the go-ahead to send troops into Ukraine, despite a warning from Washington that such a deployment would results in 'costs' for Moscow. The stark escalation of the ex-Soviet country's three-month political crisis came amid growing instability in Ukraine's predominantly Russian peninsula of Crimea that has housed Kremlin navies for nearly 250 years. AFP PHOTO/ GENYA SAVILOV (Photo credit should read GENYA SAVILOV/AFP/Getty Images)

SIMFEROPOL, UKRAINE - MARCH 01: Two young women sit in a shop that sells evening gowns as heavily-armed soldiers displaying no identifying insignia stand outside in a street in the city center on March 1, 2014 in Simferopol, Ukraine. Similarly dressed soldiers stationed themselves around the Crimean Parliament building earlier in the day in what seems to be a growing military occupation of the city, which is the Crimean capital. The day before unidentified soldiers occupied Simferopol International Airport and Russian soldiers occupied the airport at nearby Sevastapol in moves that are raising tensions between Russia and the new Kiev government. Crimea has a majority Russian population and armed, pro-Russian groups have occupied government buildings in Simferopol. (Photo by Sean Gallup/Getty Images)

Pro-Russian activists wave Russian flags as they demonstrate in Simferopol, the administrative center of Crimea, on March 1, 2014. Russia's parliament on March 1 gave President Vladimir Putin the go-ahead to send troops into Ukraine, despite a warning from Washington that such a deployment would results in 'costs' for Moscow. The stark escalation of the ex-Soviet country's three-month political crisis came amid growing instability in Ukraine's predominantly Russian peninsula of Crimea that has housed Kremlin navies for nearly 250 years. AFP PHOTO/ GENYA SAVILOV (Photo credit should read GENYA SAVILOV/AFP/Getty Images)

SIMFEROPOL, UKRAINE - MARCH 01: Pro-Russian sympathizers chanting 'Russia, Russia! Simferopol, Simferopol! Sevastopol, Sevastopol! Berkut, Berkut!' (Berkut is the elite paramilitary unit recently disbanded by the new Ukrainian government and responsible for many of the deaths during violent clahes recently in Kiev) wave Russian flags as they march in the city center on March 1, 2014 in Simferopol, Ukraine. Earlier in the day heavily-armed soldiers displaying no identifying insignia took up positions around the Crimean Parliament and elsewehere in the city center in what seems to be a growing military occupation of the Crimean capital. The new pro-Russian prime minister of Crimea, Sergei Aksenov, announced that he has taken control of Crimean military and security and appealed to Russia for help in maintaining peace in Crimea. (Photo by Sean Gallup/Getty Images)

SIMFEROPOL, UKRAINE - MARCH 01: Pro-Russian sympathizers chanting 'Russia, Russia! Simferopol, Simferopol! Sevastopol, Sevastopol! Berkut, Berkut!' (Berkut is the elite paramilitary unit recently disbanded by the new Ukrainian government and responsible for many of the deaths during violent clahes recently in Kiev) hold up a giant Russian flag as they march in the city center on March 1, 2014 in Simferopol, Ukraine. Earlier in the day heavily-armed soldiers displaying no identifying insignia took up positions around the Crimean Parliament and elsewehere in the city center in what seems to be a growing military occupation of the Crimean capital. The new pro-Russian prime minister of Crimea, Sergei Aksenov, announced that he has taken control of Crimean military and security and appealed to Russia for help in maintaining peace in Crimea. (Photo by Sean Gallup/Getty Images)

SIMFEROPOL, UKRAINE - MARCH 01: Pro-Russian sympathizers chanting 'Russia, Russia! Simferopol, Simferopol! Sevastopol, Sevastopol! Berkut, Berkut!' (Berkut is the elite paramilitary unit recently disbanded by the new Ukrainian government and responsible for many of the deaths during violent clahes recently in Kiev) hold up a giant Russian flag as they march in the city center on March 1, 2014 in Simferopol, Ukraine. Earlier in the day heavily-armed soldiers displaying no identifying insignia took up positions around the Crimean Parliament and elsewehere in the city center in what seems to be a growing military occupation of the Crimean capital. The new pro-Russian prime minister of Crimea, Sergei Aksenov, announced that he has taken control of Crimean military and security and appealed to Russia for help in maintaining peace in Crimea. (Photo by Sean Gallup/Getty Images)

SIMFEROPOL, UKRAINE - MARCH 01: Pro-Russian sympathizers, including one woman holding a sign that reads: 'The time has come to return my name! I am Russia. And not Ukraine!', hold up a giant Russian flag as they march in the city center on March 1, 2014 in Simferopol, Ukraine. Earlier in the day heavily-armed soldiers displaying no identifying insignia took up positions around the Crimean Parliament and elsewehere in the city center in what seems to be a growing military occupation of the Crimean capital. The new pro-Russian prime minister of Crimea, Sergei Aksenov, announced that he has taken control of Crimean military and security and appealed to Russia for help in maintaining peace in Crimea. (Photo by Sean Gallup/Getty Images)

SIMFEROPOL, UKRAINE - MARCH 01: Pro-Russian sympathizers chanting 'Russia, Russia! Simferopol, Simferopol! Sevastopol, Sevastopol! Berkut, Berkut!' (Berkut is the elite paramilitary unit recently disbanded by the new Ukrainian government and responsible for many of the deaths during violent clahes recently in Kiev) hold up a giant Russian flag as they march past the occupied Crimean Parliament building on March 1, 2014 in Simferopol, Ukraine. Earlier in the day heavily-armed soldiers displaying no identifying insignia took up positions around the Crimean Parliament and elsewehere in the city center in what seems to be a growing military occupation of the Crimean capital. The new pro-Russian prime minister of Crimea, Sergei Aksenov, announced that he has taken control of Crimean military and security and appealed to Russia for help in maintaining peace in Crimea. (Photo by Sean Gallup/Getty Images)

SIMFEROPOL, UKRAINE - MARCH 01: Pro-Russian sympathizers display the colours of the Russian flag as they march in the city center on March 1, 2014 in Simferopol, Ukraine. Earlier in the day heavily-armed soldiers displaying no identifying insignia took up positions around the Crimean Parliament and elsewehere in the city center in what seems to be a growing military occupation of the Crimean capital. The new pro-Russian prime minister of Crimea, Sergei Aksenov, announced that he has taken control of Crimean military and security and appealed to Russia for help in maintaining peace in Crimea. (Photo by Sean Gallup/Getty Images)

SIMFEROPOL, UKRAINE - MARCH 01: Pro-Russian sympathizers chanting 'Russia, Russia! Simferopol, Simferopol! Sevastopol, Sevastopol! Berkut, Berkut!' (Berkut is the elite paramilitary unit recently disbanded by the new Ukrainian government and responsible for many of the deaths during violent clahes recently in Kiev) hold up a giant Russian flag as they march in the city center on March 1, 2014 in Simferopol, Ukraine. Earlier in the day heavily-armed soldiers displaying no identifying insignia took up positions around the Crimean Parliament and elsewehere in the city center in what seems to be a growing military occupation of the Crimean capital. The new pro-Russian prime minister of Crimea, Sergei Aksenov, announced that he has taken control of Crimean military and security and appealed to Russia for help in maintaining peace in Crimea. (Photo by Sean Gallup/Getty Images)

SIMFEROPOL, UKRAINE - MARCH 01: Pro-Russian sympathizers chanting 'Russia, Russia! Simferopol, Simferopol! Sevastopol, Sevastopol! Berkut, Berkut!' (Berkut is the elite paramilitary unit recently disbanded by the new Ukrainian government and responsible for many of the deaths during violent clahes recently in Kiev) hold up a giant Russian flag as they march in the city center on March 1, 2014 in Simferopol, Ukraine. Earlier in the day heavily-armed soldiers displaying no identifying insignia took up positions around the Crimean Parliament and elsewehere in the city center in what seems to be a growing military occupation of the Crimean capital. The new pro-Russian prime minister of Crimea, Sergei Aksenov, announced that he has taken control of Crimean military and security and appealed to Russia for help in maintaining peace in Crimea. (Photo by Sean Gallup/Getty Images)

SIMFEROPOL, UKRAINE - MARCH 01: Pro-Russian sympathizers display the colours of the Russian flag as they march in the city center on March 1, 2014 in Simferopol, Ukraine. Earlier in the day heavily-armed soldiers displaying no identifying insignia took up positions around the Crimean Parliament and elsewehere in the city center in what seems to be a growing military occupation of the Crimean capital. The new pro-Russian prime minister of Crimea, Sergei Aksenov, announced that he has taken control of Crimean military and security and appealed to Russia for help in maintaining peace in Crimea. (Photo by Sean Gallup/Getty Images)

SIMFEROPOL, UKRAINE - MARCH 01: A heavily-armed soldier without identifying insignia guards the Crimean parliament building shortly after several dozen soldiers took up positions there on March 1, 2014 in Simferopol, Ukraine. The soldiers' arrival comes the day after soldiers in similar uniforms stationed themselves at Simferopol International Airport and Russian soldiers occupied the airport at nearby Sevastapol in moves that are raising tensions between Russia and the new Kiev government. Crimea has a majority Russian population and armed, pro-Russian groups have occupied government buildings in Simferopol. (Photo by Sean Gallup/Getty Images)

SIMFEROPOL, UKRAINE - MARCH 01: Heavily-armed soldiers without identifying insignia guard the Crimean parliament building shortly after taking up positions there on March 1, 2014 in Simferopol, Ukraine. The soldiers' arrival comes the day after soldiers in similar uniforms stationed themselves at Simferopol International Airport and Russian soldiers occupied the airport at nearby Sevastapol in moves that are raising tensions between Russia and the new Kiev government. Crimea has a majority Russian population and armed, pro-Russian groups have occupied government buildings in Simferopol. (Photo by Sean Gallup/Getty Images)

SIMFEROPOL, UKRAINE - MARCH 01: Soldiers without identifying insignia man machine guns outside the Crimean parliament building shortly after several dozen soldiers took up positions there on March 1, 2014 in Simferopol, Ukraine. The soldiers' arrival comes the day after soldiers in similar uniforms stationed themselves at Simferopol International Airport and Russian soldiers occupied the airport at nearby Sevastapol in moves that are raising tensions between Russia and the new Kiev government. Crimea has a majority Russian population and armed, pro-Russian groups have occupied government buildings in Simferopol. (Photo by Sean Gallup/Getty Images)

SIMFEROPOL, UKRAINE - MARCH 01: Heavily-armed soldiers without identifying insignia and pro-Russian militants guard the Crimean parliament building on March 1, 2014 in Simferopol, Ukraine. The soldiers reportedly moved in and blocked off the Parliament only a short time before, the day after soldiers in similar uniforms stationed themselves at Simferopol International Airport and Russian soldiers occupied the airport at nearby Sevastapol in moves that are raising tensions between Russia and the new Kiev government. Crimea has a majority Russian population and armed, pro-Russian groups have occupied government buildings in Simferopol. (Photo by Sean Gallup/Getty Images)

SIMFEROPOL, UKRAINE - MARCH 01: Heavily-armed soldiers without identifying insignia guard the Crimean parliament building after taking up positions there earlier in the day on March 1, 2014 in Simferopol, Ukraine. The soldiers' arrival comes the day after soldiers in similar uniforms stationed themselves at Simferopol International Airport and Russian soldiers occupied the airport at nearby Sevastapol in moves that are raising tensions between Russia and the new Kiev government. Crimea has a majority Russian population and armed, pro-Russian groups have occupied government buildings in Simferopol. (Photo by Sean Gallup/Getty Images)

SIMFEROPOL, UKRAINE - MARCH 01: Heavily-armed soldiers without identifying insignia guard the Crimean parliament building next to a sign that reads: 'Crimea Russia' after taking up positions there earlier in the day on March 1, 2014 in Simferopol, Ukraine. The soldiers' arrival comes the day after soldiers in similar uniforms stationed themselves at Simferopol International Airport and Russian soldiers occupied the airport at nearby Sevastapol in moves that are raising tensions between Russia and the new Kiev government. Crimea has a majority Russian population and armed, pro-Russian groups have occupied government buildings in Simferopol. (Photo by Sean Gallup/Getty Images)

SIMFEROPOL, UKRAINE - MARCH 01: Heavily-armed soldiers without identifying insignia guard the Crimean parliament building shortly after taking up positions there on March 1, 2014 in Simferopol, Ukraine. The soldiers' arrival comes the day after soldiers in similar uniforms stationed themselves at Simferopol International Airport and Russian soldiers occupied the airport at nearby Sevastapol in moves that are raising tensions between Russia and the new Kiev government. Crimea has a majority Russian population and armed, pro-Russian groups have occupied government buildings in Simferopol. (Photo by Sean Gallup/Getty Images)

SIMFEROPOL, UKRAINE - MARCH 01: Heavily-armed soldiers without identifying insignia and pro-Russian militants guard the Crimean parliament building on March 1, 2014 in Simferopol, Ukraine. The soldiers reportedly moved in and blocked off the Parliament only a short time before, the day after soldiers in similar uniforms stationed themselves at Simferopol International Airport and Russian soldiers occupied the airport at nearby Sevastapol in moves that are raising tensions between Russia and the new Kiev government. Crimea has a majority Russian population and armed, pro-Russian groups have occupied government buildings in Simferopol. (Photo by Sean Gallup/Getty Images)

SIMFEROPOL, UKRAINE - MARCH 01: A heavily-armed soldier without identifying insignia guards the Crimean parliament building shortly after several dozen soldiers took up positions there on March 1, 2014 in Simferopol, Ukraine. The soldiers' arrival comes the day after soldiers in similar uniforms stationed themselves at Simferopol International Airport and Russian soldiers occupied the airport at nearby Sevastapol in moves that are raising tensions between Russia and the new Kiev government. Crimea has a majority Russian population and armed, pro-Russian groups have occupied government buildings in Simferopol. (Photo by Sean Gallup/Getty Images)